Stopper rig for ladles



Nov. 28, 1950 H. A. DAVIS ET AL 2,531,556

STOPPER RIG FOR LADLES Filed Feb. 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Way/w L A w 5 V A D A H STOPPER RIG FOR LADLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1948 Film Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOPPER RIG FOR LADLES Application February 13, 1948, Serial No. 8,248

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for controlling the discharge of molten metal through the usual port in the bottom of ladies employedin steel plants and the like, such a mechanism being referred to in the art as a stopper rig. It is an object of the invention to provide a stopper rig combining adequate strength with minimum weight, being rugged in construction, inexpensive to fabricate, and possessing other advantages, made apparent hereinafter, over rigs now employed or heretofore proposed.

Our improved rig is especially useful with ladles of large capacity. Thus the only satisfactory method of operating the stopper which controls the discharge of molten metal from the ladle involves the use of mechanism operable from a point adjacent the lower end of the ladle, and connected to the stopper through the open mouth of the ladle. Stopper rigs for large ladles thus involve the use of operating elements of substantial length, and therefore of considerable weight. Ladies are frequently delicately balanced, and the use of a heavy stopper rig, lo-

cated principally at one side of the ladle, lessens its stabil ty. In fact, there have been occasions when a ladle has been upset in the course of operating the stopper rig, because of the excessive weight of the rig, and it is therefore important to reduce this weight to a minimum.

At the same time it is essential that the rig shall be sufliciently rugged to withstand the stresses applied to it and to reduce the possibility of failure of operation when hot metal is spilled on the parts of the rig external to the ladle. It is also important, for the same reason, that the elements of the rig be read ly separable for removal and replacement of jammed and burned parts.

These and other considerations are adequately dealt with in rigs constructed in accordance with the instant invention. Thus it is a feature of the invention that the weight of the rig is materially reduced without sacrifice in sturdiness by forming the slide rod or thrust element, disposed externally of the ladle and carrying the stopper and stopper rod, of structural members fabricated to provide a hollow section over the major portion of its length, only the end portions of the slide rod being formed of solid stock. Such a construction not only minimizes weight but materially reduces the cost of the slide rod, since only the solid end portions, which are slidably received in bearing members, need be machined.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a stopper rig embodying the invention, shown in part in vertical section, mounted at one side of a ladle;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rig shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 'i'i of Fig. 1; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the upper end of the rig.

To promote an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, and specific language is employed to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such modifications of the illustrated structure being contemplated as may fall within the language of the claims appended hereto.

In Figure 1 of the drawing is shown part of a ladle Ill to which the improved rig is applied, the ladle wall being broken to show the. stopper rod IS, the stopper i5 and the plug l2 defining the d scharge port iii, the plug extending through the ladle bottom and through the refractory lining I I of the ladle. The stopper rod [5 is usually formed of metal and is protected by a series of cylindrical refractory sleeves M which surround the rod and prevent direct contact of molten metal therewith. At its upper end the stopper rod I6 is threaded to receive locking nuts i8, between which is clamped the forked end of a crossbar I! shown in more detail in Figure 8 of the drawing. Thus the crossbar may be formed of a rectangular bar I9 Welded at one end to a collar 20 and at its other end to spaced rectangular bars 22 which constitute the fork adapted to embrace the stopper rod IS.

The collar 25) is received on and rigidly secured to a slide rod for displacement therewith to effect raising and lowering of the stopper rod, and such lateral adjustment thereof as may be required to align the stopper !5 and the discharge port l3. Structure thus far described is conventional and the details thereof form no part of the instant invention. The mode of operation thereof is well known in the art to which the invention relates.

The improved slide rod is formed in three parts, an intermediate portion 25 of major length, and end portions 26 and 27 of minor length. As illustrated in liigures 3tand '7, the intermediate portion 25 ofthe slide rod is tubular and rectangular in transverse section, whereby substantial reduction in weight is achieved. The end portions 26 and 21 of the slide rod are formedof solid rectangular stock, are received within'the ends of the intermediate hollow portion 25 and'are welded in position therein as shown in Figure 3.

The upper end of portion 28 of the slide rod is tapered for reception in the collar 20 on the crossbar I7 and is secured in position on the slide rod by a tapered key 2| which extends through a slot in the rod. A dust cover 23 is secured on the portion 26 of the slide rod immediately above the guide housing 59, which will now be described.

The guide housing 36 embraces the slide rod and supports the same for lengthwise movement in'agenerally vertical direction. A yoke 3| is weldedto the guide housing, the arms of the yoke being apertured to receive a pivot pin 32 which extends-through apertures in the arms 3 of a bracket welded to the adjacent side of the ladle. The housing 3ll'is thus supported and permitted to tilt on a substantially horizontal axis for the purpose'of positioning the stopper rod i6 and stopper l5, as is common in this field. Asshown in ':Figure '2, housingtil is formed of structural members including a base plate 36 and angles 3? defining the housing sides, welded to form a rigid structure open at one side. The fourth side is c-onstituted'by a flat plate 38 bolted to the laterally directed legs of theangles 31, so as to be readily separable therefrom for the lateral removal from the housing of the slide rod 25.

Bearings for the'slide rod are secured rigidly to theupper and lower ends of the housing 3 3-. Thus the upper bearing, shown more particularly inFigs. 3 and 4, is constituted by fiat plates 4! 3E, and 12, positioned as shown in Figure 4 to form a rectangular structure open at one side, weldedto each other and to the adjacent end of the housing A fourth plate 43, forming the fourth side of the bearing, is bolted to the remaining plates as shown in Figure 4 so as to be separable to permit lateral removal of the slide rod. The bearing just described'is dimensioned'to receive the upper end 25 of the slide rod with a sliding fit.

The lower bearing is essentially similar to'the upper bearing, being formed of fiat plates 45, 4G, and t'l, welded together to form a rectangular structure open at one side, and welded to the lower end ofthe housing'3ll. The fourth side of the lower bearing is formed in two sections, 48 and d9, bolted inposition for removal to permit the lateralwithdrawal of the slide rod. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, however, the plates 46 and i? are recessed as indicated at 55?, so that the plate '39 may be drawn tightly against the adjacentflat side of the slide rod 2? to clampthe latter in position. Thus if it should become necessary to adjust or repair any of'tne members which form the operating mechanism for the slide rod, hereinafter described, the slide rod may be temporarily retained against displacement within the housing 36. Adjustment in position ofpla-te 8 to compensate for wear in the lower bearing is also contemplated. Rotation of the-slide rod within the housing'ta is prevented by the non-circular configuration of the portions 26 and 2? of the rod, whereby keys and splines are eliminated.

The lower extremity of the rod 21 is turned to receive a collar 55 which is welded to the member. An element 56, apertured for reception on the rod 27, below the collar 55, is retained in position by a nut 5'. threaded on the lower end of the rod. Element 55 is also apertured to receive a pin 58 rigid with an car 59 which is embraced by the yoke portion 59 of a socket member 6|, element 56 and member 6| being pivotally connected by a pin 62. Yoke portion 60 also receives the lower end of a link 65 which is pivotally connected therewith by a pin 65. As shown in Figure 1, the link 65 is formed in two sections connected by a turn buckle 63, whereby the length of the link may be adjusted. At its upper end link 65 is pivotally connected to a clevis 69 which is in turn pivoted on a substantially'vertical axis by pin H extending through brackets 12 welded to the side of housing 30. Socket member El receives an operating bar 14 which may be manipulated to raise the slide rod 25 .within the housing 35 and thereby lift the stopper i5 from the discharge port It to release molten metalfrom the ladle.

It willbe noted that a number of apertures 79 are provided in the yoke portion 68 of the socket member 5!, for selective reception of pin 66, whereby bar i i-"may be raised or lowered for the convenience of the operator, fine adjustment of the position of the bar being eifected by manipulating the turn buckle es. It will be appreciated thatwhen a coarse adjustment is to be made, requiringthe removal of pin fifiythe slide rod 25 may be temporarily locked in position by tightening the plate 39 ofthe lower bearing against the lower portion 21' or the slide rod, as hereinbefore described.

A further method of locking the slide rod 25 in position is allorded by a link 8!, which may be secured by bolts 82 to the lower bearing on the housing 30 and to the element 56 when desired. It will be understood that during normal operation of the rig, the link BI is removed and the'plate 49 is loosened to permit the slide rod to pass freely'through the'lower bearing.

As'indicated'above, the housing 3! is supported at 32 for tilting movement about a generally horizontal axis, and the mechanism fortilting the'housing is shown in detail in Figure 6. Thus a bracket 85,welded or otherwise rigidly secured to one side'of the housing 30, is provided with a yoke portion, the arms 81' of which are apertured to receive gudgeons 88 projecting laterally from a nut89, whereby the nut may be canted about a. generally'horizontal axis. ArmsQO, welded to the side of the ladle, are apertured to receive a horizontally directed pin 9| on which is pivotally received a link member 92. A vertically directed pin 93, carried by arms 9 formed on a nut 95 also pivotally receives the link member 92, so that the'nut 95'is supported on the ladle for universal'movement, the parts -95 inclusive forming a well-known universal joint of the Cardan type. Screw 97 is threaded'in nuts 89 and 95,'and a handwheel 98is rigidly mounted on the screw. Thus by the rotation of the handwheel 98 the lower end of the housing 38 may be swung toward or away from the ladle to tilt 'the'rig,t 1e operating connections between the housing'an'd the'ladle being-such as to permit tilting through a substantial angle. It'should'be noted further that :the connections allow displacement of the housing in a direction at right angles to the plane of tilting movement, so as to prevent binding in the event the rig elements are improperly positioned or become warped.

It will be appreciated that the structure hereinbefore described may be modified in various details without sacrifice of the advantages inherent in the preferred embodiment of the inven tion, and such modifications as would normally, occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplate herein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stopper rig for a ladle, said rig having a stopper, a stopper rod extending upwardly beyond the mouth of the ladle, and means for controlling said stopper rod comprising an elongated guide housing for mounting on the ladle exteriorly thereof, polygonal slide bearing portions in said housing at the respective upper and lower ends of the housing, said housing and bearing portions being formed of sections separable on; a vertical plane and removably secured together; f the combination therewith of a slide rod extending through said housing and having at its upper end a connection with said stopper rod and A at its lower end manually operable means for raising and lowering said slide rod and stopper rod, said slide rod being constituted by a hollow, tubular intermediate portion of major length and solid end portions of minor length, said solid end portions being of similar cross-section to said slide bearing portions and dimensioned to afford a sliding fit therein, said solid end portions each extending into an end of said tubular intermediate portion and welded therein, all whereby the weight of said stopper rig may be 9 reduced without sacrificing strength and slide rod bearing efficiency. i

2. In a stopper rig for a ladle, said rig having a stopper, a stopper rod extending upwardly beyond the mouth of the ladle, and means for controlling said stopper rod comprising an elongated guide housing for mounting on the ladle exteriorly thereof, polygonal slide bearing portions in said housing at the respective upper and lower ends of the housing, said housing and bearing portions being formed of sections separable on a vertical plane and removably secured together, a slide rod extending through said housing and having at its upper end a connection with saidstopper rod, at least the upper and lower ends of said slide rod being of similar cross-section to said slide bearing portions of the housing and dimensioned to afford a sliding fit therein; the combination therewith of a hand lever pivotally connected at one end with the lower end of said slide rod, an elongated, generally vertically extained.

tending link pivotally connected at its upper end with an intermediate portion of said housing, and having a plurality of selective points of pivotal connection with an intermediate portion of said lever, to afford a coarse adjustment of the control of the stopper rod, and a turn-buckle embodied in the structure of the link for eifecting a fine adjustment.

3. In a stopper rig for a ladle, said rig having a stopper, a stopper rod extending upwardly beyond the mouth of the ladle, and means for controlling said stopper rod comprising an elongated guide housing for mounting on the ladle exteriorly thereof, polygonal slide bearing portions in said housing at the respective upper and lower ends of the housing, said housing and bearing portions being formed of sections separable on a vertical plane and removably secured together, a slide rod extending through said housing and having at its upper end a connection with said stopper rod, and at its lower end manually operable means for raising and lowering said slide rod and stopper rod, at least the upper and lower ends of said slide rod being of similar crosssection to said slide bearing portions of the housing and dimensioned to afford a sliding fit therea in; the combination therewith of means for angularly adjustably supporting said housing and slide rod with respect to the ladle, said means comprising lugs extending respectively from the ladle wall and an intermediate portion of the housing in overlapping relation, a removable pintle pivotally connecting said lugs, trunnion bearings respectively carried by the wall of said ladle and the lower portion of said housing, a nut trunnioned in the bearing carried by the housing, a Cardan joint having one element pivotally connected to the other of the ladle-supported trunnion bearings by means of a removable pintle,

the remote element of said Cardan joint also comprising a nut, a control shaft having oppositely threaded ends respectively engaging in said nuts, and a hand wheel on said shaft for actuating it, all whereby ready non-binding anguand quick detachment thereof from the ladle at- HARRY ALFORD DAVIS. GEORGE WASHINGTON RUHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,871,333 McKune Aug. 9, 1932 1,893,436 Nemes Jan. 3, 1933 2,223,062 Edgar Nov. 26, 1940 

